Nonhygroscopic match and process for producing same



reams M. 12, 1940 4 NONHYGMSCOPIQHATCH PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SAME Albert Blaine Doran, Los Angeles. Oaiiih. as isnor to Herbert R. Mac

Millan, Los Angeles, Cali i.

No Drawing. Application July 24, 19st, Serial van. 155,521. Renewed October as, 1939 -'l'.'his invention relates to matches and has for its principal object the production 01 match heads and. in combination, match heads wlth'friction surfaces for igniting, which are so com.-

pounded as to be highly water repelling, or nonhygroscopic.

'As heretofore inanufactured'match heads and friction surfaces for igniting the same are .com-

posed largely of water absorbing, or water soluble,

materials of such hygroscopic character that contact with waterrenders the match and 'said friction surface useless even with limited immersion. This is particularly true in localities where-the relative humidity is high, so that humidity alone is frequently a cause of decomposition and deterioration." y

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a match head and a friction igniting surface therefor which is highly resistant to the (l absorption oi moisture.

The composition of materials used herein may include the usual compositions for matches heretofore known as to igniting and burning elements and substantially anv'of such known compositions may be used with the improvements herein set forth to render matches made from such well known compositions highly. nopic.

In general, match heads are compounded from a selection of-- ll '(1) igniters, such as metallic oxides, chromates, chlorates or nitrates. As illustrative of these, the most common and most preferably used are leadoxide (M03) and ferrous oxide (FeO).

(2) Protective agents for igniters, such as the I oxalates oi the alkaline earth metals (Ba, Ca,

St). or the like.

(8) Binders to hold the ingredients together,

such as glue, starchL-dextrine or other water soluble adhesives.

l (4) Coloring matter. such as dyestuils', pigments, metallic oxides or sulphates, orthe like. (SlBuik, fillers for volume, such as starch, diatomaceous earth; finely ground silica,ilue dust or the like. I

5 "(6) I-I ardeners, such as formaldehyde or other aldehydes which functlonto give a degree of hardness and also to limitedly inhibit moisture absorption. g In addition to the above, there are many variations andselections of other materials well known, all of which'however do not vary greatly in their inability to repel moisture, and thus deterioration and decomposition, of such compounds proceed rapidly in the presence of high humidity. his invention has for -a-- further obiect the modification-of match compositions by the inclusion of a resinous material comprising esters formed by thereaction of polybasic acids with polyhydric alcohols and by such inclusion a re- I duction of the above described ingredients is also 5 accomplished. In compounding the novel match head of the invention, polybasic acids such as phthalic, succinic, maleic, adipic, diphenic, naphthalic, or other dicarboxylic or polybasic acids, may be reacted l0- with polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol, glycols, or other polyhydric alcohols to a point at which esteriilcation will take place.

The degree of esteriflcation may well only proceed to a point. at which the resinous con- 16 densation-product can be dissolved in an aromatic solvent such as benzol but the product may comprise a mixture of partially esterifled and completely esterified alcohols. which is soluble in aromatic hydrocarbons but insoluble in water and 20 which, due to adhesive binding, hardness, and relatively high melting point qualities makes the esteriflcation product particularly adapted as a combined binder, protective agent and hardener formatch head compositiofi while giv- 26 ing improved ignition scratch surfaces. j As merely illustrative of a method of preparation, dihydroxy acids, such as stearic acid, may be reacted with trihydroxy alcohols, such as glycerol, or phthalic anhydride reacted with glycerol. 30 Many combinations of polybasic acids with polyhydric' alcohols will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to obtain suitable esters for the herein described purpose.-

For instance, a mixture o144 parts by weight of phthalic anhydridemay be heated with 97 parts byw'eight of glycerol tov about 200 C., or from about 175 C. to 225 C. suliicient to obtain the desired esteriflcation.

.At this point, 71 parts by weight of cleic acid 40 together with 70 parts by weight of castor oil are added and heating continued at 200 C. for about 'one hour until the esterified product can be dissolved in a mixture of 95% benzol and 5% turpentine in quantity sufli'cient to form a free flowing solution.

To the above solution mixture are then added 20 parts by weight of finely ground glass, 10 parts by weight. of sulphur, 30 parts by weight of potassium chlorate, and 12 parts by weight of lead dioxide.- The mixture is then well agitated and aerated until its volume increases about 25% by suspension of air at which time it is in suitable condition for dipping in the match sticks to which the composition adheres to be then placed in a suitable drying locality to evaporate the solvent and :hus yield one form of the subject of this invenion.

Coal tar aromatics, hydrogenated petroleum solvents, lacquer and paint diluents, and other solvents may be used.

The action of the fatty oils, such as oleic acid,

soy bean oil, castor oil, the fatty acids derived from linseed oil, walnut oil, or raw tung oil, or other similar fatty oils is eifective to modify the condition of the esterification products to produce a relatively quick drying match head having the desired hardness and other qualities. As compared with known match heads, which require hydric hardener and binder therefor consisting of a polyalcohol esterifled with a polybasic acid and modified with a fatty oil; said composition being soluble in a hydrocarbon solvent and insoluble in water.

3. The process of preparing water resistant match heads, which comprises: esterifying apolyhydric alcohol with a polybasic acid at a temperature between about 175 C. and 225 0., continuing the heating at about the same temperature in the presence of added fatty oil until the resulting product when cooled is soluble in an added hydrocarbon solvent, mixing with the solution thus produced ignition and filling material, then evaporating the solvent.

4. The process of preparing water resistant match heads, which comprises: esterifying a polyhydric alcohol with a polybasic acid at a temperature between about 175 C. and 225 0., continuing the heating at about the same temperature in the presence of added fatty oil until the resulting product when cooled is soluble in an added hydrocarbon solvent, mixing with the solution thus produced ignition and filling material,

aerating the mixture,'then evaporating the sol- 85 vent.

ALBERT BLAlINE DORAN. 

